The Youngest Son of Sunyang

Chapter 16

The celebration was held magnificently. The ballroom was swarmed with people. Most of them came to give the grandfather a good impression, rather than simply to congratulate Choi on his election to the National Assembly.

Our family greeted Seo-yun who was greeting guests with a big smile at the entrance.

Congratulations, my father said.

Even though his tone was a bit sarcastic, her grin on Seo-yuns face didnt seem to fade an inch.

Giving the father a light slap on the back, Seo-yun scowled at him.

Help yourself, she said.

Youve changed since Choi got elected, the father said, then laughed.

Unlike him, my mother and brother Sang-jun still looked nervous.

Congratulations,

She was still grinning when my mother, I and my brother congratulated her. Very rare.

Oh, do me a favor, she said to the mother.

The mother raised her eyebrows.

There is a very important party leader I want you to meet, Seo-yun said.

My fathers eyebrows wriggled.

What are you talking about? he asked.

Honey! The mother said, tugging at his sleeve, as if to say dont make any trouble,

Its just because he said he used to be her fan. Whats with the look?

Ill meet him, the mother hastened to say, then walked into the ballroom, seizing the fathers arm.

Honey, do not blow your stack over anything, she said.

The father quickly put a polite smile on his face, greeting and getting greeted by the people, then he squeezed her hand as if saying, all right, honey,

Okay, lets take a quick look around, then get out of here, he said.

He waved his hand in greeting as he spotted Choi.

Congratulations on your election. What does it feel like, obtaining a seat in Parliament? he asked, then laughed.

Oh, well it feels like Ive been demoted from the chief prosecutor to a newly-elected member of the National Assembly, Choi said.

When I and Sang-jun greeted him, he stroked my hair and bowed lightly to the mother.

You look more beautiful with age. The ballroom became bright because of you, he said to the mother.

Congratulations, she said.

I saw Chois eyes roamed over her body.

Disgusting son of a bitch! Very off-putting.

Oh, do me a favor,Choi said.

Yep, heard that from Seo-yun. Who the hell is it? the father asked, frustrated again.

An influential person of the Sixth Republic,

What? Its been only a few days since the Sixth Republic was established,

Its President Roh Tae-woos right-hand man, he said in an effusive, but low voice.

Why dont you guys get some food? the mother suggested, looking at me and Sang-jun.

Choi pushed my parents a bit forward into the crowd.

When I tried to prick up my ears to listen, I became aware of an intrusive presence.

Kang-jun was standing with his younger sister, Young-kyung. She is one year older than I am.

Hi, Young-kyung, I said, raising my hand in greeting as I approached.

They looked horrified. They must have recalled the time when I broke Kang-juns one leg.

Is your leg okay now? I continued, I heard youd walked with crutches, I said, staring at his leg with a sarcastic edge.

His face then became reddened with rage.

We will have to adjust its balance by breaking the other, my tone was soft, but my eyes blazed. Kang-jun huffed, then stormed off. His sister followed in the rear.

Do-jun, why do you keep pissing him off? Sang-jun asked with an anxious look on his face.

He is a f**king coward! Kick his f**king ass, Sang-jun!

Sang-jun looked genuinely astonished at my F words.

Damn, he is weak-minded, as my first alliance. He will need to be schooled.

Why didnt you guys eat anything? my mother asked.

After greeting someone, our parents came back and grabbed our hands.

Lets get out and eat, the father said, Anything you guysd like,

Shouldnt we see your father before we leave? the mother asked him.

We can not see him, he said.

She tilted her head to the side.

He must be busy talking with some politicians in the royal suite,

Well then, lets get out of here, she said briskly, clinging to his arm.

Sang-jun jumped for joy, then said, Dad! McDonalds, McDonalds!

Oh well, its moments like these I lament having a 13-year-old brother. I wanted to eat dim sum at the Chinese restaurant.

Beer houses began to emerge in the 80s, and KFC appeared in 1984. The first McDonalds store opened in March this year, opposite the Galleria Department Store in Apgujeong.

Sang-jun has been campaigning hard to go to McDonalds.

The father said, all right, checking my face to see if Id like to go too. My face wore a big and very fake smile.

When we were just about to slip out of the ballroom, a man suddenly blocked our way, then bowed his head.

He is looking for you, the man said, then his chin rose, his eyes indicated me.

Do-jun? the father asked, frowning.

Yes,

You just tell him you couldnt find Do-jun,

Sorry, cant do that,

The man then bowed again.

Its okay, father. Ill be right back, I said.

He said it would take long, the man said.

Father, please dont worry about me. Ill have dinner (maybe dim sum) with grandfather,

My parents perhaps thought that I was being forced to do things I should not have to do.

I smiled broadly, trying to reassure them, Im fine.

***

The room the man escorted me to was not the royal suit Id expected. It was small, and there was no bed.

An alluring cornucopia of food laid at a big round table for me to indulge in.

Help yourself. He will be here soon, he said and stepped out of the room.

When he closed the door softly behind him, I started looking around the room.

Uh?

There was a sliding door that was slightly opened.

Looking behind the door, I could see the real royal suite, and the grandfather; this room was for guests.

He was sitting in his chair and talking to someone that I couldnt see because his back was blocking my view.

I once fuelled up on the food, pricking up my ears, leaning closer, and listening hard.

In his inaugural address, president Roh proclaimed that the era of ordinary people (Rohs slogan for his focus on continuous economic growth and fair income distribution) had arrived, and emphasized the importance of the northern policy,

Who is that?

The North policy is to improve diplomatic relations with the communist countries, especially the Soviet Union and China, the unknown man added.

How can I help you? the grandfather asked.

President Roh wants you to be part of the broad political landscape,

FYI: In 1995, both Chun and Roh were arrested on charges of collecting hundreds of millions of dollars from some of the nations most influential business leaders, chaebol as the conglomerates are known, while in office. They were also indicted on mutiny and treason charges stemming from Chuns coup and a bloody 1980 crackdown that killed hundreds of pro-democracy protesters in Gwangju.

Just keep me posted, the grandfather said.

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